Case Study: Rail Infrastructure

Compliance simplified. Reporting automated.
1,000 work locations, one platform.

How Kier Rail used SymTerra to build electronic Inspection and Test Plans across 3 lots, 300+ locations, and nearly 3,000 individual work activities for Network Rail's Wessex Route DC Traction Power cable programme.

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"What makes the application stand out is how it supports the construction team who are generating the records at the 'coal face' with a simple, user friendly interface."

Ben Biollo
Operations Manager, Kier
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Measurable Impact

Key Results

What Kier achieved with SymTerra on the Wessex Route programme.

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Simplified Reporting

Site and project reporting simplified so all stakeholders are on the same page, minimising commercial and contractual risk across the programme.

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Transformed Data Management

Eliminated the risk of lost or incorrect information, building the "golden thread" of construction project data across 1,000 work locations.

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Improved Efficiency

Streamlined workflow and reduced administrative burden. Easy geo-spatial linking of updates with schedules and assets across the Wessex Route.

The Story

Kier Rail started delivering a new contract for Network Rail Works Delivery, involving the renewal and upgrade of railway DC Traction Power cables across the Wessex Route. The workbank for this scheme is vast: 3 lots, each covering a specific railway route, each containing over 300 individual work locations.

Kier started by using SymTerra to develop an electronic Inspection and Test Plan (e-ITP) to capture engineering measurements and data, with the output dovetailing with Network Rail's formal assurance processes. This covers nearly 1,000 work locations and approximately 3,000 individual work activities.

As well as generating immediate and accessible test documentation, the project team are building a vast cross-linked and fully searchable project archive containing tens of thousands of photos and hundreds of e-ITPs. This approach eliminates the risk of lost or incorrect information, minimises commercial and contractual risk, and is a highly time-effective and efficient process.

Kier SymTerra e-ITP screenshot

At a glance

Industry Rail Infrastructure
Client Network Rail
Scope 3 lots, Wessex Route
Locations 1,000 work locations
Activities ~3,000 individual
Key contact Ben Biollo, Ops Manager

What Kier and SymTerra did

  • Built electronic Inspection and Test Plans (e-ITPs)
  • Captured engineering measurements and data on site
  • Aligned output with Network Rail assurance processes
  • Built a cross-linked, searchable project archive
  • Automated information packaging for the engineering team
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It's intuitive and easy for the whole team to use. This has significantly minimised the administrative burden, streamlined workflow, and improved knowledge management.

Full Quote

Kier uses SymTerra to capture engineering measurements and data, so that the output and communication easily aligns with Network Rail's assurance processes. It's intuitive and easy for the whole team to use.

What makes the application stand out is how it supports the construction team who are generating the records at the 'coal face' with a simple, user friendly interface. Now information is being compiled, captured, and transmitted back to Kier Rail's Engineering team, packaged in such a way that time spent manually managing the volume of information is eliminated. Instead, it has been automated, allowing the team to focus on and enhance their approach to delivery. This has significantly minimised the administrative burden, streamlined workflow, and improved knowledge management.